The Columbus journal., 1887-04-06

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The only reference to the fete cham
petre between that date and the Friday
of its happening occurred in q <ete-a+ete
betwixt brother and sister.
':Tm not going" announced Joyce.
you're not?" Rex looked up. frown-
ing. "What's the matter with you?
You act as though you wanted to avoid
Mr.. Hallett. 1t looks ridiculous. He's
never done anything to set you on your
ear. that I know"
Joyce vas silent.
'sOh, You needn't pretend that he
has" sneered Rex. you've seen
him more than half-a-dozen times all
told, and he never took any special no
tee of you one way or the other" with
brotherly outspokenness.
You're q very close observer" fired
Joyce. But there's one thing you
haven't observed, which you'd do well
to-that you needn't waste your time in
falling in love with our charming
cousin, because she pays no more atten-
ton to you than to a little boy. and
she's n love with Mr.. Hallett-there!"
and Is Rex regarded her. paling. steadi-
ly-'.Yes." she triumphed vindictively,
land that's Just what she came to us on
. visit for, because we live near him
and she wanted to get him. He's rich
and she isn't, and she's going to marry
him if-if she cam"
Joyce's tones had been growing more
Historically shrill with every word. and
now she ran out of the room with q
sound in her throat that would have
struck Rex as mysteriously suspicious
had he not been absorbed in the ruins
| of his own blighted youthful visions.
Joyce indicated that she knew that
women were privileged to change their
minds by appearing at the tete cham
! petre as serenely as though she had
never announced any intention to the
contrary.
Indeed, she was far more than serene.
| Her spirits seemed to have risen for the
occasion to an extraordinary height.
Rex looked at her ~rcproachfully. be-
ing still very much depressed himself.
Mrs. Gray regarded her with barely
| repressed amusement She (MrA. Cray
was lovely in the extreme in a white
gown and hat, respectively fluffy with
lace and feathers.
she smiled imperceptibly when she
noticed the powder on JOyce's nose.
How crudely that ridiculous chit had
clapped it on! 10 attempt to make up
when one did not know how!
Mrs. Gray pressed her perfumed tr;le
of a handkerchief to her lips.
Mr.. Hallett's tall distinguished figure
was seen approaching their party with
rshlo -, n,1.oo1aosf No cn0n ~ than
dismounted al the entrance to tho
grounds. Mrs. Gray, with her langaor-
GUS grace and her syren-like smile. gave
him her long-gloved hand.
'.How more than beautiful your al
ways beautiful place is to-day!" she
murmured.
You must let me take you all over
it, though" said MIR. Hallett. ':And.
Miss Varian, l believe this is the first
time l have had the pleasure of seeing
YOU under my roof-tree?"
He was by Joyce's side, and his hand
some dark eyes were peering discreetly
under the shadowing brim of her broad
hat.
'Yes; but better late than never"
laughed that young person. raising and
dropping her shining brown eyes with
killing effect.
Mrs. Gray's pencilled eyebrows on
tracted with amaze. Was that little
gawk of a country girl actually trying
to flirt with Mr.. Hallett? Absurd! She
had been awkward before, but now she
was absolutely grotesque.
But grotesgue or not, Miss Joyce
Varian was certainly walking away
with Mr.. HalIett by her side, and the
exquisite Mrs. Gray was bringing up the
rear with her dear Cousin Rex.
Shall find a shady place where we
can sit DOWN." queried the latter
eagerly.
mo" was the reply. as cutting as
possible. IL shall 60 and pay my de-
voirs to Mr.. Hallett's aunt, who receives
for him. You don't know her. l sup
pose?" and she left him standing there.
And Mrs. Gray was growing livid
with fury. The excitement goaded
Joyce on.
Suddenly she said p%laintivcly:
Il am SO much afraid l am keeping
you from your other guests. We had
better 90 back"
They had wandered off beyond the
precincts of the lawn, where most Of the
people were assembled.
''Oh, no-don'tr' cried Mr.. Hallett.
They're all right. You see you came
SO late l had ample time to attend to al
of them. Then my aunt's there. Tell
me. why did you run away the other
day when / went down to Lisle? /
waited and waited, but in vain"
"Why"-Joyee opened her eyes very
wide-"you didn't want to see me?
You came for Mrs. Gray"
Mr.. Hallett made an impatient ges-
ture, and muttered something under his
beard.
did I come for Mrs. Gray the other
two or three times l drove over-with-
out an invitation-for you never would
invite me-before she ever had seen
Lisle:"
You might have come for Rex" wal
the grave suggestion.
'.Rex!"
''See; l am sure Mrs. Hallett is look
ing for you-she is looking for some
body-we really must 60 back"
And she managed to escape from
uiuAs duu " hecp ulu u Uuys tOOs 0AA
the rest of the afternoon.
But what mattered that? Mrs Gray
was defeated-the peerless. the sorceress
by that little chit of a country girl
with a retrousse nose and pink cheeks!
Defeated, and she knew it, and her
visit to Isle and all her scientific
scheming had been but labor lost.
The next day she and all the bewilder-
ing clothes and the wonderful toilettes
left Isle together.
They had been gone a week when
Joyce was rolled up in a ball on one of
the garden benches with q book in her
lap which she was not reading.
Mr.. Hallett had called several times,
out lev been received.
Now Joyce suddenly looked up, and
seeing him come towards her, sprang to
her feet.
Don't disturb yourself" he said
coolly. You absolutely would not let
me come neal you, SO l forced myself
into your presence. It's abominable, l
admit But not half SO abominable a